Tom Brady fled press conference after question about Bruce Arians
A Category 5 storm is brewing in Tampa between Bruce Arians and Tom Brady.
The six-time Super Bowl champion abruptly exited the Buccaneers’ postgame press conference just 2 minutes and 21 seconds in, clearly irked after fielding a question about Arians and “running someone else’s offense” from Jenna Laine of ESPN.
“It’s just external noise that when you are losing, that’s what you deal with,” Brady said. “I love playing with the guys that I play with, the coaches, the whole organization has been unbelievable. I think I have to go out and certainly do a better job the last four weeks of the year. So, I appreciate it. Let’s have a good week.”
He left promptly after answering Laine’s question, which was in reference to a comment made by former Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich, who alluded to the notion on ESPN last week.
Not all the noise has been “external,” however, as Arians has been openly critical of his quarterback’s performance all year, including after the team’s Week 11 loss to the Rams. Brady has taken responsibility for his role in the team’s failures, but his camp has apparently gone on the offensive of late.
“Tom’s a big boy, he can take it,” a source close to Brady told NFL insider Jason La Canfora. “It’s a great way to deflect blame from Arians. Keep everybody asking about the quarterback so they don’t focus on the limitations of the scheme or the lack of adjustments being made. Are they really grinding to find every way to make this work better or just blaming the quarterback? Are they grinding all night trying to find the answers?”
Brady, 43, joined the Buccaneers in March by way of free agency after 20 seasons in New England. The honeymoon period with his new coach, however, didn’t even last a season, it appears, as the Buccaneers suffered their second straight loss.
Through 12 starts this season, Brady has completed 307 of 474 attempts (64.8) for 3,300 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, two of which came on Sunday against the Chiefs.
“This is BA’s offense and it will always be BA’s offense,” a longtime NFL assistant close to Arians said via La Canfora. “He is who he is, and they do what they do. No risk it, no biscuit. Drop it back and let it go. At this stage of his career, I don’t see that changing for anyone — not even Tom Brady.”
The Buccaneers are heading into their Week 13 bye, during which time Brady and Arians will have plenty of time to make nice and prepare for Week 14 at home against the Vikings on Dec. 13.